BAY MINETTE — Parenthood does not come with a manual or a training guide which must be completed and passed in order to become a responsible and nurturing parent.

Or does it?

In Baldwin County, such a program exists — the Baldwin County Fatherhood Initiative. To further programs and services, the Baldwin County Fatherhood Initiative has received a $50,000 grant from the Children’s Trust Fund.

Celebrating their fifth year, BCFI is one of 33 programs funded through a partnership between the Alabama Department of Human Resources and The Children’s Trust Fund, a nonprofit organization. BCFI serves 150-200 individuals per year, and has provided support for over 1,000 individuals since its inception.

The initiative provides case management, training, counseling and meditation for non-custodial parents in the child support process. Programs include job readiness, job referral, education (GED), short-term job training, child support education, individual and family case management, referrals for substance abuse, domestic violence education, and physical rehabilitation, mediation with non/never married parents regarding visitation and custody issues, and community education sessions on the rights and responsibilities of fatherhood.

A majority of the program’s clients are paternity referrals from court, in which a father is either behind in payments or not paying at all. The fatherhood program is a final opportunity for the non-custodial parent to work towards becoming a responsible parent before further court intervention.

Referrals also come from private attorneys and family members. The program is focused on the numbers of increased payments and improving the quality of life for the families involved.

Currently, there are over 40 participants enrolled in the two programs, 24/7 and Dr. Dad.

“Eighty percent of our caseload is African-American males, aged 20-30 years, with little or no high school diploma,” said Bill Morgan, BCFI case manager. “Many are underskilled and do not even have the basic skills to hold a job,” he added. The statistics also show that over 70 percent are high school drop-outs, have an average of two children in their family, two-thirds having never been married. The current age range is 17-40.

Each program is unique in that the ultimate goal is to empower fathers to understand the important role they have in the family, to learn how to make healthy choices, and to work towards building and maintaining a healthy and supportive relationship with his children, family, friends and community.

24/7 is designed for fathers to learn how to be a parent, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The group meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 12 weeks, and focuses on the characteristics that a father needs to be a great dad.

Universal aspects of fatherhood are discussed so men of all cultures and backgrounds can benefit from the program.

Dr. Dad teacher the basic skills that are important to a young child’s health and well-being such as diapering, making formula, and basic first aid and medical care.

“We want the mother to allow the dad to participate in the child’s life early on,” Morgan said. “Working with men is so new.”

Although the Baldwin County program has been successful in providing support to non-custodial fathers, there are still some areas which need desperate assistance. Morgan works closely with career centers in Mobile and Baldwin counties to provide job skill assessments, job readiness classes, and job placement.

“We need more short-term training programs and job placement opportunities in Baldwin County, especially in construction,” he added.

Fathers are an invaluable contribution to the well being of children, and want to be the best father that they can be, he said. Yet, many men grow up without a healthy role model of a father.

Consequently, many fathers have the desire, but not the knowledge or skills, to be a great dad. However, in Baldwin County, the fatherhood initiative will continue its mission of providing programs for a father to become actively involved in his child’s healthcare and to become a responsible role model for his child.

For more information about the Baldwin County Fatherhood Initiative, contact Morgan at (251) 580-2831.